Boost for Commercial Services in Remote NE Qld.

The
Australian Broadcasting Authority has varied the radio licence
area plan for the Remote North East Zone (RNEZ), to improve
the availability of the commercial radio services 4RBL/4BRZ.

The
ABA has made additional channel capacity available for 4RBL
to operate at Inglewood and Texas and alternative technical
specifications available for the service to operate at Childers/Gin
Gin, Beaudesert, Stanthorpe, Canungra and Kilcoy.

The
ABA has also made additional channel capacity available for
4BRZ to operate at Childers/Gin Gin, Inglewood, Texas and
Kilcoy and alternative technical specifications available
at Beaudesert and Canungra.

Additionally,
the ABA has made channel capacity available for new community
radio services in the Warrumbungle area of New South Wales
(Coonamble, Coonabarabran and Gilgandra) Dunedoo NSW and Weipa,
Queensland and channel capacity for an open narrowcast service
in Inglewood, Queensland.

“Before
deciding on the most effective solution for the RNEZ commercial
radio services to improve the availability of the service
in some black spot areas, the ABA took into account the views
of all who made submissions on both the draft and revised
draft licence area plan variations which were released for
public comment in July 2003 and October 2003, respectively,”
said Professor David Flint, ABA Chairman.

“Providing
alternative technical specifications for some translator services
and additional channel capacity for 4RBL and 4BRZ will ensure
listeners in the RNEZ licence area receive an adequate reception
of the service.”

“The
ABA also believes that making channel capacity available for
additional community radio services and an additional open
narrowcast service, will give audiences in the RNEZ licence
area access to a greater diversity of services,” said Professor
Flint.